Locking pins and fittings therefor



Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS LOCKING PINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1967 Fig.2.

INVENTOR. John liweLlekens Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS LOCKING PINSAND FITTINGS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. I, 1967 INVENTOR. JohnFWeLLekens BY fl fi L diiorngy Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS LOCKINGPINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 3, 1967 INVENTOR.John F.WeLLekens d/ifiorn gy Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. WELLEKENS 3,464,241

LOCKING PINS AND FITTINGS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 3, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lywgmn;

I N VENTOR.

gghn FWeLLekens dii rngy United States Patent U.S. C]. 70-91 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A locking pin for coupling together aplurality of elements, such as two doors, a single door and its frame,windows, sliding or moving drawers or trays and many other articles,such as those for example which are usually locked against opening by apadlock or other type of exposed locking means. The locking pin consistsof a hollow tube containing a locking mechanism that includes a latchthat engages a recess in the passage or opening through which the pin isinserted and which engagement between the latch and recess holds the pinagainst axial displacement or unauthorized removal. The pin may beextended through lugs or eyes or other parts and cannot be axiallyshifted or removed except by the use of a suitable key operative on thecontained locking mechanism to shift the latch and disengage it from therecess. The locking mechanism contained within the tube may be of a typeproviding for an easy change of its key combination.

The invention relates to locking means, and particularly to a device ofthis character which can, for example, be used as a substitute for theconventional padlock and can also be used in many diiferent ways forvarious purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a form of tubularlocking pin, insertable into or through parts or elements which are, bythe use of the device, held against movement relatively to one anotheror are in other words, held locked together.

The tubular locking pin contains a well-concealed and protected lockingmechanism used for controlling the operation of a latch that normallyholds the pin in looking position but permits the ready removal of thepin from its locking position when the locking mechanism is keyactuatedto displace the latch from its engagement with at least one of theelements in which the pin is fitted.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein several embodiments of theinvention are disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, with portions of two doors shown in section,of a locking device constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a face view of the two plates that are attached to the doors;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of FIG.1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 1 as seen from the rightthereof;

FIG. 5 shows the locking mechanism;

FIG. 6 shows the locking pin employed in the structure of FIGS. 1 to 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a view of the construction shown in FIG. 7 as seen from theleft;

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention as applied to acoin-collection receptacle, and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 10--10 ofFIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a view showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a front face view of the plate that is fastened to the doorin the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the lock housing and attaching plate providedthereon for coupling with the plate shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a bushing used in the embodiment of FIG. 15and attached to the door in that embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the lock housing that is employed in theembodiment shown in FIG. 15, and

FIG. 17 is a view, in a reduced scale, of the bushing employed in thelast-mentioned embodiment.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, an arrangementis disclosed that is particularly adapted for the locking together ofdouble sliding or swinging doors. One of the doors is shown at 1, and aportion of the second door is shown at 2. In their closed position, thedoors come together substantially as shown in FIG. 1.

The door 1 carries a plate 3 fastened to the door by bolts or screws 4extended through holes 4a in the plate, and formed integrally with theplate 3 is a plurality of equally spaced tubular loops or lugs 5 whichproject beyond the edge of the door 1.

Mounted on the face of the second door 2 is a plate 7 that is secured tothe door 2 by means of screws or bolts 8 extended through the holes 8a,and said plate 7 is formed with integral tubular lugs or loops 9 whichare arranged to fit between the lugs 5 on plate 3 when the doors are intheir adjacent or closed position as shown in FIG. 1. When in suchclosed position the several lugs 5 and 9 have their openings disposed inaxial alignment, or disposed to provide a continuous passage throughthem so that a locking element, such as the hollow pin to be described,inserted through the aligned lugs, will couple the doors together andhold them against opening movement or separation.

The hollow locking pin provided for the passage through the lugs orloops is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Therein is shown a relatively lengthytube 10 of such length as to enable it to fit through the severalaxially aligned loops or lugs 5 and 9. The lowermost lug 5a is shown asbeing closed by a disk 11, welded or otherwise securely mounted inplace. The tube 10 and its contents are arranged to be longitudinallyinserted within or withdrawn from the passage through the lugs or loops5 and 9 and to effect the withdrawal of the tube and its containedlocking means, such locking means must be in an unlocked condition.Fitted in the lower end of the tube 10 is a protective closure plug 22having a head 23 at its end.

At the end of the tube 10 remote from the closure plug 22 is fitted abushing 12 containing a rotatable plug 13 provided with a key slot 14.Contained in the tube 10 between the plug 22 and the bushing 12 is acylindrical locking mechanism 15. Such locking mechanism consists of alock of the cylinder type and is preferably, although not necessarily,of a construction similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 3,260,080.Such type of locking mechanism is one in which the combination can bespeedily and easily changed whenever it is desired, to enable the lockto be operated by a selected key. Thus, a feature of the presentconstruction resides in the fact that when the possibility exists thatthe lock can be opened by a person or persons having unauthorizedpossession of a suitable key, the combination of the lock can be changedand this can be done without difficulty or extensive eifort so that adifferently contoured key will be required in order to open the lock.

In a lock of this kind a plurality of wafer-like, disksh-aped elements17 are employed, such elements being provided in their peripheral edgewith a plurality of notches. By the alignment of selected notches in theseveral elements, a certain combination is set for the acceptance of aspecific key. Thus, all that the lock requires for the setting of adesired combination, is the manual rota. tional adjustment of theseveral elements to selected positions according to the contour of thekey to be employed. This can be done by finger operation and without theuse of tools while the lock assembly 15 is out of the tube 10. Thestructural details of a lock of this kind are more specifically shownand described in my said Patent No. 3,260,080.

The locking mechanism 15 includes a latch 16 extending through anopening 16a in tube 10 (FIG. 6) and said latch is retractible by theinsertion of a key through key slot 14 and into the locking mechanism,and by the manual rotative movement of the key. In its extended orlocking position, as shown in FIG. 7, the latch 16 extends through anaperture 16a in the side wall of the tube 10 and enters a groove 19formed in the central tubular lug 5. While the latch 16 is so engagedwith the groove 19 it will be apparent that the tube 10 and its contentscannot be longitudinally shifted or withdrawn out of the aligned lugsand 9.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device will be apparent. Whenthe tube and the contained locking mechanism are not arranged in thelugs 5 and 9, it will be obvious that the two doors 1 and 2 can beseparated. To secure the desired locking effect and hold the doorsagainst separation, the tube 10 and its contents are inserted downthrough the aligned lugs 5 and 9 as shown in FIG. 3, and the latch 16engaging the groove 19 in one of the lugs 5 will hold the tube and itscontained lock ing mechanism positioned within the lugs and hold theplates 3 and 7 against separation. By the insertion of a suitablycontoured key through the key slot 14 to enter the lock mechanism, andby the turning of such key, the latch 16 will be moved out of the groove19 whereupon the tube 10 and its contained locking mechanism can bewithdrawn from within the lugs 5 and 9 and the coupling between theplates 3 and 7 eliminated and the doors then be free to separate.

While the structure has been described as being particularly applicablefor use in connection with a pair of doors, it can also be used inconnection with a single door or other part or parts to be held againstseparation.

The locking mechanism contained well within a sturdy protective tube 10is difficult to reach by anyone attempting to pick the lock, and theease in changing the combination of the lock, as explained in detail inmy said Patent No. 3,260,080 provides for an inexpensive but highlyeffective locking means used in many environments.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, :a portion ofa hinged or swinging door is shown at 25. Secured to a face of the doorby screws or bolts 26 is a sturdy C-shaped bracket 27. A housing 28 isprovided at the back with a T-shaped plate 29 arranged to be slidablyreceived within the bracket 27 and the housing is provided at the backwith rearwardly extending flanges 30 and 31, the bracket 27 and plate 29being located between these flanges.

The housing 28 includes a vertically disposed tubular sleeve 32 withinwhich the tube 10, the locking mechanism 15 and the various otherelements described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4,are contained. In this embodiment now described, the sleeve 32 is openat the bottom, so that the head 23a on the plug 22 may protrude belowthe sleeve 32 and enter into a recess 33 or other keeper provided in oron the floor 34. The latch 16 enters a groove 19a formed in the innerwall surface of the sleeve 32.

In this embodiment, the tube 10 and its contents can be lifted out ofthe sleeve 32 by the displacement of the latch 16, thus disengaging thehead 23a from the floor recess 33 and permitting the door to be swung toopen position. When this is done, the housing 28 may, if desired,

he slid out of the bracket 27. The desired locking effect is secured bysliding the housing 28 in to the bracket 27; swinging the door toposition the sleeve 32 above the recess 33 and inserting the tube 10 inthe sleeve 32 until the latch 16 engages the groove 19a, at which timethe head 23a will be engaged with the recess 33. This locking pin, likethat previously described, can have the combination of its lockingmechanism readily changed.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10, there isshown the locking means applied to a drawer or tray of a vault used forthe collection of coins. Such drawer may be a part of a coin-controlledapparatus for washing or drying machines such as used in a laundromat,or it may be efiectively employed in many other types of vendingmachines.

At 40 is shown a housing mounted by screws passing through apertures 41,at the required location on the machine, a portion of which is shown at42, to receive the deposited coins. The removable coin-collection draweror tray 43 is contained within the housing 40 and by the use of theimproved locking means the drawer or tray is prevented from removal fromthe housing without the use of a suitable key. Secured to the oppositewalls 45 and 46 of the housing are spaced bars, those on the walls 45being indicated at 47 and those on the wall 46 being indicated at 48.

Extending across the drawer or tray 43 and secured to the walls 49 and50 thereof, is a cylindrical sleeve 51, containing an inner sleeve 52,which is also secured to the walls of the drawer or tray. The lockingpin employed in this embodiment is similar to that previously describedand shown in FIG. 6. The pin includes the tube 10, containing thelocking mechanism 15 and the latch 16 actuated thereby and is alsoclosed at one end by the plug 22. The opposite end of the tube 10 isclosed by the bushing 12, containing the plug 13 having the key slot 14.

When the locking pin, constructed as above described is fitted throughthe inner sleeve 52 as shown in FIG. 10. The head 23 on plug 22 will fitin the space between the bars 47 while the opposite end of the tube 10will fit between the bars 48. This will prevent withdrawal of the draweror tray by movement in the direction of the arrows 44 as long as thelocking pin is positioned as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Longitudinal oraxial movement of the tube 10 and its contents will be prevented as longas the latch 16 is maintained in engagement with the aperture 54provided through the wall of the inner sleeve 52. By manipulation of thelock by a required key inserted through the key slot 14, the latch canbe retracted and the tube 10 and its contents withdrawn from within thesleeve 53, leaving the drawer or tray free to be removed from the casing30.

While the last mentioned embodiment shows the looking means as appliedto a specific drawer or coin tray it will be apparaent that it canreadily be used in many other environments.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, inclusive, there is securedto a face of the door 25 by means of screws 60, a substantiallydisk-shaped plate 61 which is notched at diametrically opposite pointsas shown at 62 and provided with arcuate lugs 63 between the notchedportions.

The lock housing shown at 65 is similar in many respects to that shownat 28 in FIG. 7. The housing 65 is formed at the back with a plate 64having spaced intumed flanges 66 which are adapted to engage behind thelugs 63 and thereby attach the housing 65 to the plate 61. Thisattachment is attained by fitting the housing against the plate 61 androtating the housing until the flanges 66 engage behind the lugs 63.Thus, a bayonet-joint coupling is attained between the housing 65 andthe plate 61, the latter being attached to the door as heretoforementioned. It will be understood that the housing 65 contains the lockelements as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and which operate in the mannerdescribed in relation to the embodiment therein shown.

Another means for attaching the lock housing 65 to a door shown at 25 isshown in FIGS. 14 to 17, inclusive. Therein a bushing or sleeve 67 isprovided at one end with an integral annular flange 68 which abutsagainst a face of the door while the bushing or sleeve 67 enters into anaperture 71 provided in the door.

The housing 65, in this embodiment, is formed with a rearwardlyextending stem 70 arranged at substantially right angles to the axis ofthe housing 65 and which fits within the bushing 67. The bushing isfixedly attached to the door by screws 69 which extend through theflange 68 and enter the door.

Diametrically opposite grooves 73 are formed within the bushing 67 andsplines 72 formed on the stem 70 engage with the grooves to therebysuitably position the housing 65 relatively to the door.

Near its rear end and behind the bushing 67, the stem 70 is providedwith cross pins 74 which can be spring biased and act to preventseparation of the housing 65 from the bushing. The housing 65 in thisembodiment also contains the lock elements disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 8.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 17, inclusive, the separation ofthe lock housing from the door is simple. When locking of the door isrequired, the lock housing is quickly attached to the door. This isdone, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, by rotatively adjusting the housing65 until the flanges 66 engage behind the lugs 63 on the plate 61 toline up the bolt portion 23a of the locking pin with the floor recess inwhich it is to enter. In the embodiment of FIGS. 14 to 17 the stem 70 isinserted in the bushing 67, the engagement of the splines 72 withnotches 73 assuring proper line-up of the bolt part 23a with the floorrecess when the locking pin is inserted in the housing.

When the lock casing 65 is bodily removed from the door, only the plates61 and 68 respectively will remain on the door and the same areunobtrusive and nonprojecting.

Having thus described several embodiments of the invention, it isobvious that the same are not to be restricted thereto.

What I claim is:

1. A locking pin arrangement adapted for engagement with a plurality ofelements to hold the elements against separation, one of the elementsconsisting of a sleeve having a plate portion, a substantially C-shapedbracket secured to a door and receiving and embracing the plate portionof the sleeve to thereby removably attach the sleeve to the door, alocking pin including a tube entering into the sleeve and containing alocking mechanism within it, the tube including an end part normallyprojecting out of one end of the sleeve for engagement with a recess ina fixed element to hold the door against opening movement, the lockingmechanism including a latch that is actuated by key manipulation of thelocking mechanism, the sleeve having a recess in its wall for receivingthe latch and preventing axial movement of the tube and its contents outof the sleeve, the removal of said tube withdrawing the projecting partof the same out of the recess and permitting movement of the door asWell as permitting the separation of the plate from the embrace of theC-shaped bracket.

2. A locking pin arrangement adapted for attachment to a door or thelike, comprising a plate secured to the door, a sleeve carrying a partfor interfit with the plate to thereby detachably couple the sleeve tothe plate, the sleeve being detachable from the plate by movement of thesleeve relatively to the plate, a tube slidable axially within thesleeve, said tube having an end part projecting out of one end of thesleeve for engagement with a recess in a stationary element locatedadjacent to the door to hold the door against movement, key-controlledlocking means contained in the tube, a latch controlled by said means, arecess in the sleeve engaged by the latch, the retraction of the latchpermitting axial withdrawal of the tube out of the sleeve.

3. A locking pin arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the platesecured to the door has diametrically opposite edge flanges spaced fromthe face of the door and the sleeve has a disk provided with spacedinturned flanges that engage behind the flanges on the plate to therebydetachably couple the disk and its sleeve to the plate.

4. A locking arrangement adapted for attachment to a door, according toclaim 2, wherein the plate that is secured to the door has a bushingextending into the body of the door, the part carried by the sleeveconsisting of a stem passing through the bushing and having partsinterfitting with the bushing to thereby locate the stern in apredetermined position relatively to the bushing and prevent rotativemovement of the sleeve relatively to the door, and stop means on thestem for engagement with the bushing to prevent withdrawal of the stemout of the bushing.

5. A locking pin arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the C-shapedbracket includes opposed flanges disposed transversely of the sleeve andbetween which the plate on the sleeve is embraced, the plate on thesleeve being slidable in a manner to free it from the embrace of theflanges and by movement transverse to the axis of the sleeve, and thesleeve having flanges disposed respectively above and below the opposedflanges on the C-shaped bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,331 6/1909 Feola -3711,434,161 10/1922 Smith 70-371 X 1,912,663 6/1933 Shinn 70--33 3,392,5577/1968 Solow 70-211 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner EDWARD J.MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

